Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-12-15
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

DECIMAL UNITs.-As the Metric
System Of Weights and Measures grows
in universal favor, the need OF uni
form decimal currency and Of adecimal
systemsof time measurement Is becom-
ing generally felt Most countries
already possess some form Of decimal
money, and even England is waking
up to the advantages of decimal units.
A recent scheme for decimalizlng the
pound sterling was well supported, the
plan being to adopt the mill as the
unit and divide the sovereign into 900
mills, thus making the half-sovereign
equal 500 mills, the crown $50, the
double form 200, the half-crown l25,
the form 100, the shilling so, and the
sixpence 25. In Wiesbaden u step In
decimal time keeping has been taken.
A new clock divides the day into 10
hours, the hour into 10 decades, the
decade into 10 minutes, the minute in
to 10 seconds, and the second into 10
rays. Similar units take the place oi
the usual degrees, minutes and seconds
in the division Of the circle.
PNEUMONIA EXPLAINED.-It is gen.
orally supposed that pneumonia is due
to the accidental penetration Of spe-
cific microbes into the system, but the
observations of M. Jaccoud, French
student Of the subject, show that the
disease really results from the develop
ment under favorable conditions OF
microbic germs permanently present
in the system. A chief condition Oi
such development is a sudden chill
which explains the frequent coin
cidence of lung affections with abrupt
changes of temperature.
A DEVELOPING ART.-Probably nc
application of science is advancing
more rapidly than photography
Among recent appliances are detec
tive camera in the form of watch
with charm to hold a supply ofminia
ture dry plates, and a telescope Gamers
in which distant objects are brough
near by telescopic aid and photo
graphed. Modern dry plates hav'
made the camera quite available a
night, and exquisite pictures are nov
taken by moonlight and even by star
light.
DWELL ERS IN DARKNEsS.-T cav
animals of North America, according
to Prof. A. S. Packard, comprise tota
of 172 species of blind creatures, nearl,
all of which are mostly white In color
TRACING THE CIRCULATION
ing with the idea that the hand varie
sensibly in size with the amount Q
blood present in it at any moment
Prof. MOsso, the Italian physiologist
has made some most interesting in
vestigations In his first experiment
the hand was placed in closed vesse
of water, when the change in the circu
lation produced by the slightest actio
of body or grain, the smallest though
or movement, was shown by a rise 0
fall in the liquid in the narrow neck G
the vessel. With a large balance o.
which the horizontal human body ma
be poised, he has found that one
thoughts may be literally weighed
and that even dreams, or the effect of
slight sound during slumber, turn tn
blood to the brain sufficiently to sin
the balance at the head. When tn
brain OF the balanced person isrelaxin
from thought the flow is toward tn
feet, with corresponding oscillation
The investigator has continued hi
studies of the circulation until it seem
that he may almost read ones thought
and sensations. A tracing from
single pulse-beat shows him whether
person is fasting or not; two beats serv
to determine whether the subject is
thinking or needless one, whethe
asleep or awake,l cold or warm, agi
tated or calm. The changing pulls
even told him when professions
friend was reading italian and whe
Greek, the greater effort for the latte
duly affecting the blood flow.
Work OF FIVE YEARs.-Prof. J. A
Fleming, the English electrician
shows in 1882 an electric dynamo fo
1900 lights weighed A, 500 pounds, til
armature weighed $500 pounds, tn
space occupied was $40 cubic feet, tn
horse power required was 155, and tn
commercial efficiency was 81 per cen
The 1887 machine, with an armature {
1,468 pounds, weighs 11,760 pounds
occupies obout 1870 cubic feet, require
about 112 horse power and has CON
mercial efficiency of over 80 per cen
A given current costs one-fourth Q
much as in 1882.
A CURIOUS D1sCovERY.-In the tai
tar of teeth from skeletons of the ston
age, Mr.. Charters White, of the Odor
tological Society of Great Britain, hs
found specimens of the food eaten b
our prehistoric ancestors 5000 years c
more ago. The fragments identifie
include portions Of corn husks, spirs
vessels from vegetables, starch husk!
fruit cells, the point of fish's tootf
and bits of wool, feathers and cart
lage.
SURGICAL PROGRESS. AT two of tn
leading hospitals of Paris, the deaf
rate from amputations of all kinds he
fallen from 50 per cent. in 1880
about 10 per cent at present.